Has anybody garnered any positive benefit whatsoever from joining LinkedIn? If so, what? So many of these now it's hard to keep up.
Thanks,
JR
Posted by Doug Andrews on March 1, 2010 at 10:03 AM
I'm on LinkedIn and haven't seen much positive benefit at all. Its like a professional business oriented version of a social networking site like Facebook. I suspect the more you put into it the more you can get out of it.
Posted by David Bostedo on March 1, 2010 at 10:11 AM
As far as I'm concerned, the main value of LinkedIn is if you're looking for a job. You have a list of contacts, who can easily spread the word using the site, including recommendations and resumes. (I tell my connections I need a job, they know someone who knows someone who needs those skills, etc.)
I wouldn't call it a social-networking site or relate it to Facebook or any other site at all. I understand that the setup is similar, but in my experience, people's use of it is entirely different. I don't use it much, and it's just my experience, so maybe some treat it differently. But basically the messages I receive on there are people looking for jobs, or looking to hire - and actually I don't get those all that often.
You're right, Doug. The more you put into it, the more you get out of it. For example:
I've used Linked in for a few purposes. I've used it to reconnect with old friends from college. Using the "Group" feature, many of us have reconnected after joining the same college and student groups. Finding old friend in both Linked in and on Facebook led to a real life party at my house following Thanksgiving last year.
Also, using the Group feature, I've begun networking with other people in my profession (Emergency Preparedness and Business Continuity). The active Q&A that goes back and forth between us has benefited me greatly.
There are even some photography related groups I belong to: Canon EOS Digital Photography, Sidejob Photographer, Fine Art Photography - Fotografique. Some of these groups have more active dialog than others.
I've been on LinkedIn for a while. I'm an executive recruiter (own a headhunting firm), and I've not really seen any benefit, but I am contacted often by job seekers via the site. (As a headhunter, benefit for me would be a new client or contract, aka a company looking to hire, not job seekers.) That said, I'm not a fan of social networking sites, and certainly haven't tried to take advantage of LinkedIn for business building. In fact, the only reason I have a profile on LinkedIn, is because it was created automatically via a professional bio. I eventually went in and added to it.
Am I... gasp... the last person in N America to not have joined Facebook? I think Wanda Sykes said it best: "If I didn't want to talk to you in 5th grade, I'm probably not going to want to talk to you now."
If you want a business/social network without the junior-high atmosphere that you get with facebook, myspace, and their ilk, then give linkedin a try. You get what you put into it. It's all business; a place where mature people, with common interests/careers, communicate in a mature manner.
No ads! even if you're a "free" user. And no "barely legal" women trying to "friend" you every day. In fact, asking complete strangers to join your network is heavily discouraged. They have a system set up to help you meet people through your own contacts, or through groups of people with common interests. I think I've only had one or two complete strangers try to contact me without a legitimate business reason.
As far as finding a job or finding people to hire, it's just one more tool. You might find the right connection on linkedin, or you might find it elsewhere.
I know people who use the premium services and love it. me, I just want to keep in touch with people without a lot of fluf.
It's not a magic bullet, but it's worth checking out.
Discussion
5 repliesThanks,
JR
I wouldn't call it a social-networking site or relate it to Facebook or any other site at all. I understand that the setup is similar, but in my experience, people's use of it is entirely different. I don't use it much, and it's just my experience, so maybe some treat it differently. But basically the messages I receive on there are people looking for jobs, or looking to hire - and actually I don't get those all that often.
I've used Linked in for a few purposes. I've used it to reconnect with old friends from college. Using the "Group" feature, many of us have reconnected after joining the same college and student groups. Finding old friend in both Linked in and on Facebook led to a real life party at my house following Thanksgiving last year.
Also, using the Group feature, I've begun networking with other people in my profession (Emergency Preparedness and Business Continuity). The active Q&A that goes back and forth between us has benefited me greatly.
There are even some photography related groups I belong to: Canon EOS Digital Photography, Sidejob Photographer, Fine Art Photography - Fotografique. Some of these groups have more active dialog than others.
Jon
www.jbhaber.com
Am I... gasp... the last person in N America to not have joined Facebook? I think Wanda Sykes said it best: "If I didn't want to talk to you in 5th grade, I'm probably not going to want to talk to you now."
No ads! even if you're a "free" user. And no "barely legal" women trying to "friend" you every day. In fact, asking complete strangers to join your network is heavily discouraged. They have a system set up to help you meet people through your own contacts, or through groups of people with common interests. I think I've only had one or two complete strangers try to contact me without a legitimate business reason.
As far as finding a job or finding people to hire, it's just one more tool. You might find the right connection on linkedin, or you might find it elsewhere.
I know people who use the premium services and love it. me, I just want to keep in touch with people without a lot of fluf.
It's not a magic bullet, but it's worth checking out.